How to hire a pit hand

How to hire a pit hand, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pit hand hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a pit hand job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pit hand
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the pit hand you need to hire. Certain pit hand roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A pit hand's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, pit hands from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of pit hand salaries for various roles:

   Type of Pit Hand	Description	Hourly rate
   Pit Hand		$14-26
   SMT Operator	Surface mount technology (SMT) operators monitor and maintain any equipment used in establishing SMT electronic circuits. The task of SMT operators involves SMT machine operation to mount electronic components onto the circuit boards... Show more	$12-21
   Shop Worker	A shop worker may work in a wholesale or retail shop to provide customer service. They welcome guests, maintain their store's cleanliness, and ensure stock levels are maintained... Show more	$11-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rig
   • Floor Equipment
   • Mud Pumps
   • Mud Weight
   • Tongs
   • Drilling Fluid
   • Hand Tools
   • Well Control
   • CPR
   • BOP
   • RAN
   • Safety Procedures

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and perform rig operations, repair large mud pump motors, hoppers, shakers, generators, valves and agitators.
   • Record all fabrication or machine operating parameters accurately and legibly.
   • Adhere to all company safety policies and procedures as per Nabors policy book and standards.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your pit hand job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A pit hand can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, pit hands' average salary in alaska is 57% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level pit hands 45% less than senior-level pit hands.
   • Certifications. A pit hand with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a pit hand's salary.

   Average pit hand salary

   $42,397yearly

   $20.38 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level pit hand salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 2, 2026

4. Writing a pit hand job description

   A pit hand job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a pit hand job description:

   Pit hand job description example

   Nabors Industries owns and operates one of
   the world's largest land-based drilling rig fleet and is a provider of offshore
   drilling rigs in the United States and multiple international markets. Nabors
   also provides directional drilling services, performance tools, and innovative
   technologies for its own rig fleet and those of third parties. Leveraging our
   advanced drilling automation capabilities, Nabors' highly skilled workforce
   continues to set new standards for operational excellence and transform our
   industry.
   
   Nabors
   is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and
   applicants and prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type without
   regard to race, religion, age, color, sex, national origin, disability status,
   genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or
   expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local
   laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting,
   hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of
   absence, compensation and training. To learn more about our Fair
   Employment practices, please refer to the Nabors Code of Conduct.
   
   Title: Derrickhand
   
   Overview: The Derrickhand is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation and support function of the mud module (sack area, mud pumps and mud pit / shakers). The Derrickhand works under the direction / supervision of the Driller, but reports directly to the Rig Manager.
   
   Key Relevant Tasks:
   • Preventive maintenance and general repairs to the mud pumps and associated
   equipment including changing out the mud pump liners, as requested by the
   Driller or the Mud Engineer
   • Ensuring the chemicals and mud mixture (properties) is of sufficient type and
   quantity to meet the needs of the drilling operations
   • Direct and supervise the Floorhand assigned to assist with the sack handling or
   the shakers
   • Perform the general housekeeping, maintenance and upkeep of the equipment
   in the chemical / mud pits / mud pumps
   • Assisting the Driller with raising and lower drill pipe in and out the hole during
   tripping operations
   
   Essential Functions:
   • Must have good short and long term memory and the mental stamina to stay alert
   and attentive for up to 12 hour tour
   • Able to works 7 or 14 days on and 7 or 14 days off, including holidays, weekends
   and or days and nights
   • Must be able to respond to instructions from the Mud Engineer, Driller or Rig
   Manager in an efficient manner
   • Regularly weigh the mud, analyze the viscosity and measure barrels gained or
   loss every half hour
   • Must be able to repetitively climb stairs and ladders as well as be able to work
   while suspended upwards of 90 feet above the rig floor in a riding belt. Must be
   comfortable working 140+ feet above the rig floor
   • Must be able to stand and walk for a minimum of 4 hours at any one time,
   including standing and walking on steel decking as well as gravel, board roads
   and mud, snow and ice
   • Repetitively lift and carry items weighing upwards of 60 lbs up and down stairs.
   Repetitively swing 20 lbs sledge hammers as well as torque on wrenches /
   open /close valves requiring upwards of 160 lbs of torque
   • Able to bend, stoop, kneel, twist, and crawl throughout the tour work shift while
   wearing Personal Protective Equipment at all time
   • Assist the Rig Manager with trouble shooting and problem solving duties and
   decisive manner
   • Working above the drilling floor, on the monkey board, guiding the drill pipe
   during the tripping-in/tripping-out process, ensuring to wear proper safety
   equipment.
   • Other duties as required by the Rig Manager Qualifications Minimum Qualifications:
   • Ability to perform essential functions of this position with or without reasonable
   accommodations.
   • Minimum of 3 years rig experience as a Floorhand or Motorhand for Nabors
   Drilling USA or 1 year of experience as a Derrickhand for another drilling
   company.
   • Ability to wear respiratory protective devices
   • Ability to successfully complete Derrickhand training at the NDUSA training center
   •Ability to complete the essential functions of Floorhand and Motorhand duties
   when needed
   • Must have reliable transportation to and from the rig
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   • High school diploma, certificate or equivalent.
   • Possess a strong knowledge of all equipment on a drilling rig (Especially chemical and drilling fluids) Job: OPERATIONSPrimary Location: United States Of America-Wyoming-Casper-(Nabors Drilling, USA) Wyoming

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find pit hands for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your pit hand job on Zippia to find and recruit pit hand candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit pit hands, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new pit hand

   Once you've found the pit hand candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a pit hand?